Container for collecting and disposing of animal excreta

ABSTRACT

A hand-held portable container ( 1 ) for collecting and disposing of animal excreta comprising a shell ( 5,101 ) having an opening for receiving excreta, the shell ( 5,101 ) having an impaling instrument including a plurality of tines ( 8 ) disposed within the shell ( 5,101 ) for impaling excreta. The tines ( 8 ) are provided by teeth ( 105 ) tapered so that the edges of the teeth ( 105 ) closet to the opening of the shell ( 5,101 ) are thin enough to allow at least partial penetration of excreta received into the opening. An aerosol cartridge ( 4,136 ) is mounted in a housing ( 3,131 ) of the container ( 1 ) and the cartridge includes a freezing component for freezing the excreta to the tines of the shell.

This invention relates to a container for collecting and disposing ofanimal excreta and in particular to a hand held apparatus for collectingdog's excreta.

Various cities and towns throughout the world have introducedlegislation making it a public offense for a dog owner to allow a dog tofoul the pavements or public parks without removing the excretathereafter. An apprehended person walking the animal is often subject toa fixed penalty fine. In any event, this is an unhygienic practiceparticularly in parks or areas where children are prone to be playing.The impact of both the deterrent of a fine and increased publicawareness in relation to hygiene has produced a need for an apparatus toremove excreta from pavements, grass and other surfaces upon which a dogexcretes during exercise or during any other time spent outdoors.

A variety of apparatuses have been developed to assist pet owners withthe task of removing excreta from a surface shortly after it has beendeposited by a pet.

WO 89/08744 discloses a refuse collector having a receiver for therefuse and a vacuum cleaner unit for collecting the refuse andtransmitting it to the receiver. A source of refrigerant gas is providedto be directed onto the refuse to partly freeze it before it iscollected and transmitted to the receiver.

DE 3238062 discloses a container in which a cooling medium isaccommodated to harden the surface of domestic animal faces making iteasier to lift and carry. The container is designed for both lifting andstoring the faces of the domestic animal.

DE 29816807 discloses a device having a portable container with a coldspray enabling the dog excrement to be cooled before collection anddisposal. The device enables the excrement to acquire a firm consistencyprior to collection and disposal.

The present invention provides an alternative construction of containerfor collecting and disposing of excreta deposited by a pet/domesticanimal.

Accordingly, there is provided a hand-held portable container forcollecting and disposing of animal excreta comprising a shell having anopening for receiving excreta, the shell having an impaling meansincluding a plurality of tines disposed within the shell for impalingexcreta. The plurality of tines cause minimal dispersion of the excretawhen an operator presses the tines down into it. The tines increase thesurface area of the container which comes into contact with the excretaincreasing the likelihood of a successful removal of all of the excretafrom the surface it has been deposited on.

Preferably, the tines are provided by teeth tapered so that the edges ofthe teeth closest to the opening of the shell are thin enough to allowat least partial penetration of excreta received into the opening.

Ideally, the teeth extend radially inwardly from the shell.

Preferably, the teeth are symmetrically disposed about the central axisof the shell.

Ideally, the shells are nestable with one another. This reduces thespace required for shells during storage, transportation and use.

Ideally, the container comprises a housing having one or more shellsreleasably mounted thereon.

Preferably, the housing comprises a hollow elongate element forreceiving an aerosol cartridge.

Ideally, the one or more shells are releasably mounted on a first end ofthe housing.

Ideally, the or each shell is held on the first end of the housing by acollet. Alternatively, the shells are held in place by friction.

Preferably, the shell has a flared open end. This allows the shell toreceive excreta of varying size and forms.

Ideally, the aerosol includes a freezing component for freezing at leastthe outer skin of the excreta. This improves the bond between the tinesand the excreta increasing the likelihood of a successful removal of theexcreta, at the first attempt.

Preferably, the housing comprises two identical semi-cylindricalplastics mouldings. This reduces the manufacturing costs of the housing.

Preferably, a second end of the housing accommodates means for actuatingan aerosol cartridge so that a predetermined portion of aerosol isdispensed.

Ideally, the actuating means comprises a button housed in the second endof the housing and being depressible so as to dispense aerosol from theaerosol cartridge.

Preferably, the button has a predetermined travel so that a desiredquantity of aerosol is dispensed when the button is depressed along thefull distance of its travel.

Ideally, the second end of the housing defines a slot and the button hasa flange housed within the slot so that the travel of the button isdelimited by the width of the slot.

Preferably, the button is normally urged out of the housing by thebiasing means on a nozzle of the cartridge.

Ideally, the travel of the button is selected to accommodate a widerange of aerosol cartridges.

Preferably, the surface of the button in contact with the aerosolcartridge is substantially hemispherical.

Preferably, an outer surface of the housing for receiving a hand isadapted to increase friction between the users hand and the housing.

Ideally, a rib and groove formation is provided on at least a portion ofthe outer surface of the housing.

Preferably, means for engaging the nozzle of the aerosol cartridge areprovided on the first end of the housing so that a predetermined optimumquantity of aerosol is dispensed when the button is fully depressedonce.

Ideally, a seat is provided for supporting the dispensing end of thecartridge.

Preferably, the engagement means depresses the nozzle of the aerosolcartridge in response to the button being depressed so that aerosol isdispensed.

Ideally, a plurality of shells are releasably mounted on the first endof the housing.

Preferably, the shells have an aperture for receiving the aerosol fromthe cartridge.

Ideally, the aperture is disposed centrally of the shell and issubstantially aligned with the dispensing nozzle in use.

Preferably, an upstanding collar is disposed on the outside of the shellsurrounding the aperture.

Ideally, the collar is suitably dimensioned for engaging the nozzle ofthe aerosol cartridge in order to dispense aerosol in response to thebutton being depressed.

In a first embodiment, the impaling means is integrally formed with theshell.

In a second embodiment, the impaling means is removably mounted on theshell.

In the second embodiment, the impaling means comprises a base locatedoutside the shell and a plurality of tines outstanding therefrom,extending through and disposed within the shell, the shell having aplurality of apertures aligned with the tines for slidable engagementtherewith.

In a third embodiment, sharp tines penetrate the shell without the needof apertures. The shell facilitates their cleaning upon withdrawal.

Ideally, the shell comprises a base and a wall outstanding from theperiphery of the base.

In a fourth embodiment, the container comprises a housing having one ormore shells releasably mounted thereon and a fluid delivery means beingmounted on the housing for communicating fluid from an aerosol cartridgemounted on the housing to the area around the fines.

In any embodiment, a lid is provided for engagement with the shell forcovering the tines and any excreta impaled thereon prior to disposal.This improves the hygienic aspect of the container.

Preferably, the lid has a covering plate and a flange projectingsubstantially orthogonally from the plate.

Ideally, the flange extends around the external surface of the shell ator about the shell's free edge to prevent contamination from excretalodged adjacent to the free edge.

In any embodiment, the shell, lid and tines are formed from plastic.

In any embodiment, the shell and lid are formed from cardboard and thetines are formed from wood.

In the second embodiment, the base of the impaling means is formed fromcardboard and the tines are formed from wood.

In the second embodiment, the base of the impaling means and the tinesare formed from plastic.

In the second embodiment, the housing is integrally formed with the baseof the impaling means on the side of the base opposite the side whichcarries the tines.

In a fifth embodiment, the housing has a substantially c-shapedresilient clip mounted thereon for receiving the aerosol cartridge.

In the fourth or fifth embodiment, the fluid delivery means comprises adispensing head for engagement with a nozzle of the aerosol cartridgeand a pipe extending between the dispensing head and the area around thetines.

In the fourth or fifth embodiment, the shell defines an aperture forreceiving a free end of the pipe.

In the fourth or fifth embodiment, the dispensing head has an annularshoulder formed for engagement with an annular flange on the nozzle toopen the aerosol cartridge when an operator presses on the dispensinghead allowing aerosol to flow out of the cartridge through the pipe tothe area around the tines.

It will of course be appreciated that an elongate handle in the form ofa walking stick can extend from the housing, the handle having a meansfor remotely activating the dispensing head for opening the aerosolcartridge.

Ideally, the free end of the pipe is located centrally of and extendsthrough the aperture in the shell for communicating the aerosol to thearea around the tines.

In the second embodiment, the free end of the pipe is located centrallyof and extends through the base of the impaling means and the aperturein the shell.

In a sixth embodiment, the shell is releasably mounted on a housinghaving two main faces, one face carrying a means for fastening anaerosol cartridge thereon and the other face having a surrounding walloutstanding from the periphery thereof defining a cavity for receivingthe shell.

In the sixth embodiment, the shell and the cavity are dimensioned toform an interference fit therebetween. This allows the shell to beeasily inserted into and removed from the cavity before and after userespectively.

In the sixth embodiment, a screw is provided in a threaded boreextending through the wall outstanding from the face of the housing forengaging the shell housed in the cavity.

In any embodiment of the invention, the wooden or plastic tines arereplaced by metal tines having an integrally formed temperature reducingmeans. The reduced temperature of the metal fines results in freezing ofthe excreta in the area around the tines and providing a strong bondbetween the excreta and the tines.

Preferably, a battery-powered light bulb or semi-conductor lamp and aswitch are mounted on the housing.

Ideally, transparent glass covers the light bulb to the front of thecontainer and a red glass is provided for transmitting the light at therear of the container.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides a method of collectinganimal excreta comprising the steps of contacting the excreta with asolid body, dispensing aerosol including a freezing component around theexcreta and solid body so as to form a bond between the excreta and thesolid body and subsequently lifting the solid body so as to remove theexcreta from the surface it was deposited on.

The present invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, twoembodiments of an apparatus for collecting and disposing of animalexcreta in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an internal perspective view of a shell;

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the shell of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway perspective view of a first embodiment of acontainer;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a second embodiment of the container;

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the second embodiment of the containerwith an aerosol cartridge mounted thereon;

FIG. 8 is side view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a second embodiment of a shell;

FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of a lid for the shell of FIGS. 10 to 12;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the lid of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the lid of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an elevation view of a lid for the housing of FIGS. 7 to 9;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the lid of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the lid of FIG. 16 and FIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the container.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, there is shown ashell indicated generally by the reference numeral 101. The shell 101has a circular base 102 and a wall 103 upstanding from the base 102. Thebase 102 has a central aperture 104. Ten tapered teeth 105 areintegrally formed with the base 102 and upstanding wall 103. The edges106 of the teeth 105 closest to the opening of the shell 101 are thinenough to allow penetration of excreta received into the opening. Theteeth 105 extend radially inwardly from the base 102 and wall 103 andcover a substantial portion of the space enclosed by the shell 101.

Referring now to FIG. 2, cavities 108 are defined on the externalsurface 109 of the shell 101 by the radially inwardly extending teeth105 of FIG. 1. An integrally formed collar 110 upstanding from the base102 in a direction opposite to the wall 103 encloses the aperture 104.The end of the wall 103 distal from the base 102 defines a minor supportrim or flange 111 on the external surface of the wall 103. (See FIGS. 1and 2).

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown the shell 101 of FIGS. 1 and 2mounted on housing 131. The housing 131 is a hollow elongate element132.

The element 132 has two identical semi-cylindrical sections 133 (onlyone shown) fastened together by any suitable fasteners along the splitline of the element 132 via bores 134 correspondingly located in eachsemi-cylindrical section 133. An aerosol cartridge 136 is accommodatedwithin the housing 131 with the end of the cartridge 136 carrying adispensing nozzle (not shown) juxtaposed the shell 101. A seat 137 isprovided on the first end of the housing 131 juxtaposed the shell 101.The seat 137 provided on this end of the housing 131 is for supportingthe tapered neck 138 of the cartridge 136. This end also has an abutmentelement (not shown) for engaging the nozzle (not shown) of the cartridge136. A collet 141 also extends from this end of the housing 131 forreleasably fastening the shell 101 thereon.

The second end of the housing 131 has a slot 142 extending at leastpartially around the internal surface of the housing 131 perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the housing 131. A cylindrical button 150has a peripheral flange 151 and is held in this end of the housing 131by the peripheral flange 151 which is housed within the slot 142 andmovable relative to the slot 142.

The cartridge 136 urges the button 150 out of the housing 131 undernormal circumstances due to the biasing force of the biasing elementacting on the nozzle of the cartridge 136.

A rib and groove formation 153 is provided on the outer surface of thehousing 131.

In use, an operator locates one or more shells 101 onto the first end ofthe housing 131. In order to collect and dispose of excreta, theoperator lowers the housing 131 and shell 101 towards the excreta withthe open end of the shell 101 facing the excreta. The edges 106 of theteeth 105 are forced down into the excreta. At this point, the operatorpresses the button 150 forcing the nozzle of the cartridge 136 to engagethe abutment element. This releases a predetermined amount of aerosolthrough the upstanding collar 110 and aperture 104 into the space in theshell 101 around the impaled excreta. A short period of time is allowedfor the frozen excreta to bond with the teeth 105. The operator raisesthe housing 131 and shell 101 lifting the excreta off the surface it wasdeposited on. The operator can place a lid on the shell 101 and removethe sealed shell 101 from the housing 131 in order to discard the shell101 and excreta.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 9 and FIG. 19, there is shown a container forcollecting and disposing of excreta indicated generally by the referencenumeral 1. The container 1 has a housing 3 for receiving an aerosolcartridge 4 therein. A shell 5 is releasably mounted on the housing 3,the shell 5 having a base 7 and a plurality of tines 8 outstandingsubstantially orthogonally from the base 7.

The housing 3 also carries a fluid delivery apparatus 11 for deliveringfluid from the aerosol cartridge 4 to the area around the tines 8. Thehousing 3 has an open-ended tube 12 for receiving an aerosol cartridge 4manufactured from plastic and integrally formed with a substantiallyoblong elongate element 14 having the tube 12 extending along one side15 thereof. The opposite side 16 of the element 14 carries a surroundingwall 17 outstanding therefrom and defining a cavity 21. The cavity 21 isdimensioned for receiving the shell 5 holding it in position by aninterference fit therebetween.

The shell 5 has a surrounding wall 22 outstanding from the base 7 in thesame direction as the tines 8. The base 7 and surrounding wall 22 areformed from cardboard and the tines 8 are formed from wood and arepresented as wooden stakes. A lid 25 (see FIGS. 16 to 18) formed forengagement with the outstanding wall 22 of the container 5 is providedto enclose the tines and any matter impaled thereon. The lid 25 has abase 41 and a surrounding wall 42 outstanding from the base 41. A secondlid 27 (see FIGS. 13 to 15) formed for engagement with the surroundingwall 17 is also provided with a base 43 and a surrounding wall 44outstanding from the base 43 and the lid 25 is enclosed by the lid 27when both lids are mounted on their respective surrounding walls 22, 17.The lid 27 provides further protection against contamination fromexcreta which adheres to the free edge of the shell 5.

The fluid delivery apparatus 11 (see FIG. 19) has a dispensing head 31for engagement with the nozzle 32 of the aerosol cartridge 4 and a pipe33 for transferring the aerosol to the area surrounding the tines 8. Thedispensing head 31 has an annular shoulder 34 formed for engagement withan annular flange 35 surrounding the base of the nozzle 32. The free end37 of the pipe 33 is located centrally of and extends through the base 7of the shell 5.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 13, the tines 8 are shown in rows and columnsoutstanding from the base 7 of the shell 5 forming an array of woodenstakes to penetrate excreta. In this embodiment, the tines 8 extendperpendicularly from the base 7.

In use, a person who is walking a pet which has fouled the walking areatakes hold of the container 1 by the housing 3. With the other hand, anoperator removes both lids, outer lid 27 and then inner lid 25 exposingthe outstanding tines 8. The lids 25, 27 are placed on the ground ontheir bases 41 and 43 respectively so that the lids can be rejoined totheir corresponding parts without lifting them again. The operator nowmoves the container 1 towards the excreta, tines 8 first. The tines 8are pressed down into the excreta until the outstanding wall 22 contactsthe surface upon which the excreta is supported. The aerosol cartridge 4is now opened for a few seconds by applying force to the nozzle 32allowing the aerosol to flow through the pipe 33 and into the areaenclosed by the base 7, wall 22 and the surface upon which the excretais supported.

The freezing component of the aerosol freezes at least the skin of theexcreta which bonds to the tines 8 and the core of the excreta. Thelifting operation can now be repeated in order to lift additional moundsof excreta. After the first mound has been successfully frozen andlifted, the apparatus can be placed over an additional mound. The innercore of the original mound merges and bonds with the second mound. Partsof the second mound are pierced by the tines and the new combined moundis frozen again. The operator lifts the container 1 away from thesupport surface and the excreta is removed from the surface. Theoperator now moves the container 1 into alignment with the lid 25 andlowers the container 1 tines 8 first onto the lid 25 sealing the excretawithin the shell 5. The shell 5 may now be detached from the cavity 21of the container 1 and disposed of in a bin. Alternatively, if no suchwaste disposal facility is available, the operator can place the mainlid 27 onto the container 1 until a suitable bin is located.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from thescope of the invention described above and as claimed hereinafter.

1. A hand-held portable container (1) comprising a housing (3, 131)having one or more shells (5, 101) releasably mounted thereon, the oreach shell (5, 101) having an opening for receiving excreta and havingan impaling means including a plurality of tines (8) disposed within theshell (8) for impaling excreta characterised in that the housing (3,131) has an aerosol cartridge (4, 136) including a freezing componentmounted thereon, the or each shell having an aperture for receivingaerosol from the aerosol cartridge.
 2. A hand-held portable container(1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tines (8) are provided by teeth(105) tapered so that the edges of the teeth (105) closest to theopening of the shell (5, 101) are thin enough to allow at least partialpenetration of excreta received into the opening.
 3. A hand-heldportable container (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the teeth (105)extend radially inwardly from the shell (5, 101).
 4. A hand-heldportable container (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the teeth (105)are symmetrically disposed about the central axis of the shell (5, 101).5. A hand-held portable container (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein theshells (5, 101) are nestable with one another.
 6. A hand-held portablecontainer (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more shells (5, 101)are held on one end of the housing (3, 131) by a collet (141).
 7. Ahand-held portable container (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein theshells (5, 101) are held in place by friction.
 8. A hand-held portablecontainer (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shells (5, 101) have aflared open end.
 9. A hand-held portable container (1) as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the housing (3, 131) comprises two identicalsemi-cylindrical plastics mouldings (133).
 10. A hand-held portablecontainer (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second end of the housingaccommodates means for actuating the aerosol cartridge (4, 136) so thata predetermined portion of aerosol is dispensed.
 11. A hand-heldportable container (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the actuatingmeans comprises a button (150) housed in the second end of the housingand being depressible so as to dispense aerosol from the aerosolcartridge (4, 136).
 12. A hand-held portable container (1) as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the button (150) is normally urged out of the housing(3, 131) by a biasing means on a nozzle of the aerosol cartridge (4,136).
 13. A hand-held portable container (1) as claimed in claim 11,wherein the travel of the button (150) is selected to accommodate a widerange of aerosol cartridges (4, 136).
 14. A hand-held portable container(1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture (104) is disposedcentrally of the shell (5, 101) and is substantially aligned with adispensing nozzle in use.
 15. A hand-held portable container (1) asclaimed in claim 14, wherein the impaling means is removably mounted onthe shell.
 16. A hand-held portable container (1) as claimed in claim15, wherein the impaling means comprises a base located outside theshell and the plurality of tines outstanding therefrom, extendingthrough and disposed within the shell, the shell having a plurality ofapertures aligned with the tines for slidable engagement therewith.